[Kabar-Irian] News: Feb 02-05 2007

Sun Feb 4 23:12:30 MST 2007

KABAR IRIAN NEWS

Feb 3-5 2007

TOPICS

* Nearly half of Indonesian villages underdeveloped'
* Papua council approves reg on allocation of autonomy funds
* Aussies, Indonesians to hold exercises
* SASR, Kopassus plan second joint exercise
* Jakarta, Canberra Plan Anti-Terror Exercise
* Canberra, Indonesia plan terror exercise
* Papua evacuees encouraged to return home
* Papua separatists 'not a threat'
* THE WEST PAPUA REPORT  (Feb 2007)
* West Papuan church office occupied by Indonesian police
*  Freeport, Phelps Holders to Vote on Deal
* Growing humanitarian crisis in West Papua’s Puncak Jaya

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20070205.H08&irec=7

Nearly half of Indonesian villages underdeveloped'

The State Ministry for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions is not an
entirely new ministry-level institution, as a similar institution under a
different name existed in the

administrations of Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri. State
Minister for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions Saifullah Yusuf
talked to The Jakarta

Post's Agustina Wayansari recently about the role and function of this
under-publicized ministry.

Question: What is the ministry's task?

Answer: We have found that development has left the country with
disparities. It is a fact that happens to the people and the regions. Some
Indonesians are wealthy, while

the others are poor. Some enjoy higher education and better healthcare
service, on the other hand there are people who have limited access to
those facilities.

The gap also occurs among regions throughout the country, where certain
regions have better infrastructure, such as electricity and
transportation, than the others. And

many people say that eastern Indonesia is less developed than the western
part.

This ministry is meant to assist the President (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono)
in formulating policies that can bridge the gap.

How are you doing it?

First, we formulate policies that side with the disadvantaged regions,
both in regulations and the budget. Second, we are committed to
accelerating development in regional

areas, and third, formulating policies that empower people in
disadvantaged regions.

What have you done since you were assigned as the minister in 2004?

We have coordinated and synchronized policies with related institutions,
including the Public Works Ministry.

We have identified 199 disadvantaged regencies throughout the country,
from Sabang to Merauke. Most of them, about 62 percent, are in Eastern
Indonesia, usually in

isolated areas such as outer islands and mountainous areas. However, some
are located on Java.

At the end of last year, the President ordered us to get involved directly
in the following three programs:

First, we will focus on the development of infrastructure in villages,
since more than 50 percent of disadvantaged regencies lack infrastructure
facilities.

Second, the ministry will give direct assistance for local economic
development. It could be in the form of capital assistance or by
developing production areas to create

more job opportunities as well as enhancing economic growth in the region.

The last is to provide direct assistance to empower the community, because
we understand that high public participation will reduce development
costs.

What do you mean by policies and budgets that are favorable to
disadvantaged regions? Could you give us examples?

Let us start with 2005. The government spent more than Rp 3 trillion
(US$329.8 million) on the infrastructure development in 12,834 villages
throughout the country as a part

of the fuel hike compensation program. Each village received Rp 250
million to develop their basic infrastructure. We chose 30 villages in
disadvantaged regencies and 20

in relatively developing and developed ones.

In 2006, Rp 500 billion was allocated to continue the program in 1,800
villages in disadvantaged regencies in four provinces, East Nusa Tenggara,
East Java, South

Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi.

While this year, the government will work on 2,000 villages with budget
allocation of around Rp 680 billion. We will make sure that the focus will
remain on the disadvantaged

regencies.

How many villages are categorized as disadvantaged in Indonesia?

We have identified that 32,000 out of the total 70,600 villages are
underdeveloped and lack basic infrastructure and facilities, including in
the education and health sectors.

We could also say that the unemployment rate and poverty level in those
regions are higher than the national rate.

Our target is to reduce the number of underdeveloped villages by about 15
percent by 2010.

Have you had any problems carrying out your plans?

We found that as a new ministry, we need to introduce ourselves to related
parties, especially to the disadvantaged regencies. I have visited more
than 130 regencies

across Indonesia since my assignment as the minister. On average, I visit
one or two villages each week.

We also need to work harder to raise awareness of all related
stakeholders, including the central government, local administrations,
donor agencies and non profit-

organizations, as well as the community, about the importance of working
together to narrow the gap.

Can you give us an example of development in a disadvantaged region?

Sure. Let's take Lubuk Resam village in Seluma regency of Bengkulu
province. When I visited the village for the first time in 2006, I found
that the village had no electricity

and we had to spend more than four hours to reach it, (even though it was)
only 20 kilometers away from the regency's capital city. Now, the
villagers can enjoy electricity

and the new road has been built, shortening their travel time from the
city to only 45 minutes.

Do you often meet with the President?

We meet at Cabinet meetings, where he gives us clear and comprehensive
directions.

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20070205.G02&irec=1

Papua council approves reg on allocation of autonomy funds

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

The Papua legislative council has approved a special regulation on the
allocation and management of trillions of rupiah in autonomy funds from
the central government.

The regulation, which was approved during a plenary session in Jayapura on
Friday evening, consists of seven chapters and 33 articles. It will govern
the use of an

expected Rp 3.29 trillion (US$346.31 million) in autonomy funds this year.

Under the regulation, 40 percent of the money, or an estimated Rp 1.31
trillion, will be managed by the Papua provincial administration. The
remaining 60 percent, an

estimated Rp 1.97 trillion, will be managed by 20 municipalities/regencies
in Papua province and nine municipalities/regencies in West Irian Jaya
province.

The drafters of the regulation chose not to allocate any of the funds for
the West Irian Jaya provincial administration, which they believe was not
established in line with the

law on Papua special autonomy.

Criteria for the allocation of funds to municipalities/regencies will be
based mainly on the size of the administrative areas, number of residents,
geographical conditions,

locally generated revenue, property tax revenue and local gross domestic
product.

Mathias Rafra, spokesman of the Papua provincial administration, said the
details on allocations for each municipality/regency would be discussed
further with the governor

and mayors/regents.

According to the regulation, the Papua provincial administration will
allocate 15 percent of the autonomy funds for health and nutrition
development, 30 percent for

education, 15 percent for the local economy, 12 percent for village
infrastructure and 8 percent for official spending, among other
allocations.

At the level of municipalities and regencies, 30 percent of the money will
go toward education, 15 percent for health and nutrition, 15 percent for
community economic

empowerment, 15 percent for village infrastructure, 5 percent for official
expenditures and 5 percent of the money will be put into savings.

The funds put into savings will only be disbursed after a minimum of 15
years, with the allocation of this money to be adjusted according to
regional regulations.

Women's rights activist Sofya Maipauw said that while a large amount of
the money would go toward women's empowerment, she was concerned the funds
would not be

wholly enjoyed by Papuan women because the special regulation failed to
provide clear guidelines on which organizations would be entitled to the
money.

Sofya expressed fear new non-governmental organizations, backed by
government institutions, would be set up for the main purpose of claiming
some of the funds.

She said an independent institution comprising members of existing women's
organizations should be established to manage the funds, to ensure the
money went toward

the empowerment of indigenous Papuan women and children.

"I have to emphasize here that they should not disburse funds to
(government-sponsored) women's organizations like the PKK (Family Welfare
Movement), Dharma Wanita

or the Women's Organization Coordinating Agency. Rather, the money should
go to Papuan women's organizations in the kampongs," she said.

---

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20070202-111529-9801r

Aussies, Indonesians to hold exercises

CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Australia and Indonesia will hold
joint maritime surveillance and anti-terror commando exercises this year.

The Australian newspaper, quoting Australian government sources, said no
date has yet been decided for either of the exercises but they symbolize
improving relations

between the two states, which have been at odds most recently over
Australia's granting sanctuary to a group of refugees from Papua.

Papua is an Indonesian province, where government forces are fighting
separatists.

A spokeswoman for the Australian military said the anti-terror exercise
would involve SAS (Special Air Service) commandos and commandos from
Indonesia's Kopassus

special force.

Among situations covered in the exercise would be hostage-recovery and
counter-hijacking.

The last Australia-Indonesia ground counter-terror exercise was held last
February and was seen as a milestone - it was the first since relations
between Canberra and

Jakarta nosedived in 1999 in a dispute over Indonesian control of East
Timor, now independent and known as Timor-Leste.

---

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21159396-2703,00.html

SASR, Kopassus plan second joint exercise

    * February 02, 2007

AUSTRALIA and Indonesia will conduct a counter-terrorism exercise, the
second since resumption of joint training involving the Special Air
Service Regiment (SASR) and

the controversial Kopassus special force.

But defence won't say when, where or how many troops from each side will
take part.

"No specific information on this type of training activity will be
released due to operational security reasons," a defence spokesman said.

The exercise follows the first joint SASR and Kopassus counter-terrorism
exercise conducted in Perth in February last year.

That exercise, code-named Dawn Kookaburra, concentrated on counter-hijack
and hostage recovery operations.

The upcoming exercise will be the second in the series and with venues
commonly rotated, it likely to be in Indonesia.

"The Australian Defence Force has taken steps to develop training with TNI
(Indonesian Armed Forces) in the areas of hostage recovery and
counter-hijack operations,"

the spokesman said today.

"TNI's Kopassus Unit 81, currently represents Indonesia's most effective
capability in these areas.
"In the event of a terrorist incident, the safety of Australians in
Indonesia could rest on effective cooperation between the ADF and TNI."

The spokesman said building links through joint training between the ADF
and Kopassus would increase Australian effectiveness in working with TNI
in the event of a

terrorist incident.

Former defence minister Robert Hill announced a resumption of joint
training between Australian and Indonesian special forces in December
2005, ending an eight year

moratorium.

Australian defence ties with Indonesia grew through the 1980s and 1990s,
mainly between Kopassus and the Perth-based SASR, but ended abruptly in
1999 when

Australia led the international mission to East Timor.

The relationship with Kopassus was always controversial because of its
well documented involvement in human rights abuses in East Timor, Aceh and
West Papua.

A 2004 report released by the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the
Australian National University warned that Kopassus frequently, if not
exclusively, operated in an

illegal manner and there was little evidence it had changed its ways.

Kopassus Unit 81 has a specific counter-terrorist role. The government
believes it possesses the most effective capability to respond to a hijack
or conduct a hostage

recovery operation involving Australians in Indonesia.

Other joint training between the ADF and TNI is planned. The RAAF and
Indonesian Air Forces will conduct a maritime surveillance exercise called
Albatross Ausindo off

Northern Australia in the second half of this year.

- AAP

---

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=244766

World
February 02, 2007 19:00 PM

Jakarta, Canberra Plan Anti-Terror Exercise

MELBOURNE, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- Australia and Indonesia will conduct a
counter-terrorism exercise, the second since resumption of joint training
involving the Special Air

Service Regiment (SASR) and the Kopassus special force.

But defence authorities won't say when, where or how many troops from each
side will take part.

"No specific information on this type of training activity will be
released due to operational security reasons," a defence spokesman was
quoted by the Australian

Associated Press as saying.

The exercise follows the first joint SASR and Kopassus counter-terrorism
exercise conducted in Perth in February last year. That exercise,
code-named Dawn Kookaburra,

concentrated on counter-hijack and hostage recovery operations.

The upcoming exercise will be the second in the series and, with venues
commonly rotated, it is likely to be in Indonesia.

"The Australian Defence Force has taken steps to develop training with TNI
(the Indonesian Armed Forces) in the areas of hostage recovery and
counter-hijack

operations," the spokesman said.

"TNI's Kopassus Unit 81 represents Indonesia's most effective capability
in these areas.

"In the event of a terrorist incident, the safety of Australians in
Indonesia could rest on effective cooperation between the ADF and TNI," he
said.

The spokesman said building links through joint training between the ADF
and Kopassus would increase Australian effectiveness in working with TNI
in the event of a

terrorist incident.

Kopassus Unit 81 has a specific counter-terrorist role. The Australian
government believes it has the most effective capability to respond to a
hijack or conduct a hostage

recovery operation involving Australians in Indonesia.

Other joint training between the ADF and TNI is planned. The RAAF and
Indonesian Air Forces will conduct a maritime surveillance exercise called
Albatross Ausindo off

Northern Australia in the second half of this year.

-- BERNAMA

---

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Canberra-Indonesia-plan-terror-exercise/2007/02/02/1169919526618.html

Canberra, Indonesia plan terror exercise

February 2, 2007 - 6:24PM

Australian and Indonesia will conduct a counter-terrorism exercise, the
second since resumption of joint training involving the Special Air
Service Regiment (SASR) and the

controversial Kopassus special force.

But defence won't say when, where or how many troops from each side will
take part.

"No specific information on this type of training activity will be
released due to operational security reasons," a defence spokesman said.

The exercise follows the first joint SASR and Kopassus counter-terrorism
exercise conducted in Perth in February last year.

That exercise, code-named Dawn Kookaburra, concentrated on counter-hijack
and hostage recovery operations.

The upcoming exercise will be the second in the series and with venues
commonly rotated, it likely to be in Indonesia.

"The Australian Defence Force has taken steps to develop training with TNI
(Indonesian Armed Forces) in the areas of hostage recovery and
counter-hijack operations,"

the spokesman said.

"TNI's Kopassus Unit 81, currently represents Indonesia's most effective
capability in these areas.

"In the event of a terrorist incident, the safety of Australians in
Indonesia could rest on effective cooperation between the ADF and TNI."

The spokesman said building links through joint training between the ADF
and Kopassus would increase Australian effectiveness in working with TNI
in the event of a

terrorist incident.

Former defence minister Robert Hill announced a resumption of joint
training between Australian and Indonesian special forces in December
2005, ending an eight year

moratorium.

Australian defence ties with Indonesia grew through the 1980s and 1990s,
mainly between Kopassus and the Perth-based SASR, but ended abruptly in
1999 when

Australia led the international mission to East Timor.

The relationship with Kopassus was always controversial because of its
well documented involvement in human rights abuses in East Timor, Aceh and
West Papua.

A 2004 report released by the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the
Australian National University warned that Kopassus frequently if not
exclusively operated in an

illegal manner and there was little evidence it had changed its ways.

Kopassus Unit 81 has a specific counter-terrorist role. The government
believes it possesses the most effective capability to respond to a hijack
or conduct a hostage

recovery operation involving Australians in Indonesia.

Other joint training between the ADF and TNI is planned.

The RAAF and Indonesian Air Forces will conduct a maritime surveillance
exercise called Albatross Ausindo off Northern Australia in the second
half of this year.

© 2007 AAP

---

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20070202.G03

Papua evacuees encouraged to return home

National News - February 02, 2007

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

The government will deploy a team of local officials to Yamo, Puncak Jaya,
Papua, Monday to encourage thousands of people fleeing a crackdown on
separatists to return

home.

Around 2,000 people moved from the Yamo river to the center of Yamo
district following military and police attacks on Free Papua Movement
(OPM) rebels in the area.

"We will go to the place (where the evacuees temporarily live) Monday with
representatives of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police,"
Yamo district head Philipus

Tabuni said Thursday.

Tabuni said those fleeing were not classified as refugees, but only as
people seeking refuge.

He said it was feared the fleeing masses could face food shortages as
stocks they held begin to dwindle. "They mostly rely on cassavas ... they
do need food assistance,"

he said.

Meanwhile, the Association of Papua Churches (PGGP) will establish a
humanitarian post to distribute relief aid in response to the reported
threat of food shortages.

The post, which will be located at the office of the NGO's Cooperation
Forum in Papua, will also coordinate relief aid from donors.

"We will open the office this week," said the forum's director, Septer
Manufandu.

Vice chairman of PGGP, Rev. Lipius Bilinik, who is also head of the
Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) synod, said PGGP would send letters
to Papuan parishioners

requesting donations.

Spokesman of the Trikora Military Command, Lt. Col. Imam Santoso,
Wednesday said the number of people facing food shortages was 2,000, not
5,000 as claimed by

PGGP.

"Are there any photos indicating that? Has anyone seen the refugees?" he
asked.

Imam said a number of people had moved to Yamo, but that exact numbers
were unclear as no reports had arrived from the area.

He said they were not refugees, but rather people avoiding the threat from
an armed group who had broken the law by killing a soldier in December
last year.

Imam believed the PGGP had given the wrong information as it could not
provide any proof of its claims. "This is the same as giving false
information," he said.

Imam said TNI and the police, along with the provincial administration,
would never knowingly create public unrest and insecurity.

Imam called on the civilian armed group to relinquish their weapons and
return to society.

Imam said humanitarian aid would be provided to Yamo's residents if the
PGGP's inflated reports of mass evacuations proved to be true.

"The TNI and the police are ready to provide assistance and security if
the mass exodus indeed took place. But, there are no facts. The TNI and
police would not let people

suffer by not helping them," he said.

Imam also urged people not to involve themselves with the armed group and
to continue with their daily lives.

Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu called on the state apparatus to conduct a
manhunt for members of the armed group. He said this action would minimize
unrest among

Papua's citizens.

---

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20070201.H05

Papua separatists 'not a threat'

National News - February 01, 2007

Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesia Military was urged Wednesday to be softer in its handling of
the separatist movement in Papua as the threat the movement posed was
minimal and lacking in

significant external support.

"There are no effective insurgent groups nor political network in Papua
that are strong enough to create a serious threat," said researcher
Muridan S. Widjojo of the Center

for Political Studies at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

"However, we have to realize that deep inside, almost every Papuan wants
to be free from Indonesia," he added.

Speaking at a public discussion, Muridan said that the insurgent groups
would become debilitated on their own, without any military force or
intrusion.

"Papua is a big island geographically. Moreover, the infrastructure there
cannot support any underground threat," Muridan said, adding that there
was no international help

that could really bolster the movement.

The soldiers and paramilitary police members had been careful with the
people in Papua when it came to using force, he said.

The most notable separatist organization in the area is the Free Papua
Movement, which has been fighting for independence since 1965.

Australian academic Richard Chauvel of Victoria University said that the
chances of Australia helping a separatist movement in Papua to gain
independence were small.

"If you compare the situation with East Timor, Australia had a personal
connection with East Timor compared with Papua because there were more
Australian soldiers

being deployed there," Chauvel said.

"With Papua, there is no personal connection at all. However, there is no
regulation from the Australian government that prohibits local NGOs from
supporting Papuans in

getting their independence," he said.

In March 2006, the Australian government granted temporary political
asylum to 42 out of 43 Papuan refugees, who came to the country by boat.
The event caused a stir in

the two countries' diplomatic relations.

Chauvel added that the best cure for the separatist threat was political
will from the central government in enacting special autonomy, which was
granted to the region in

2000, along with the establishment of the new province of West Irian Jaya.

"The (Indonesian) government has to be serious in handling the area,
especially in eradicating poverty, increasing the health and education of
the people," said Chauvel,

who often conducts research in Papua.

Currently, he said, the Indonesian government was not committed to
allowing Papua to receive its special autonomy.

In 2006, both Australia and Indonesia's governments signed the Lombok
Agreement on security operations.

The agreement was based on Indonesia's desire for Australia's recognition
of its sovereignty and a statement that Australia would not support any
separatist movement in

Indonesia.

An article of the agreement states that neither country will support
separatist movements in the other or allow their territory to be used as a
base for separatist movements.

---

THE WEST PAPUA REPORT           February 2007

This is the 33rd in a series of monthly reports that focuses on
developments affecting Papuans. This reporting series is produced by
the West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) drawing on media accounts, other
NGO assessments and analysis and reporting from sources within West
Papua. The West Papua Advocacy Team is a non-profit organization.
Questions regarding this report can be addressed to Edmund
McWilliams at edmcw at msn.com

SUMMARY

Military operations in the Punjak Jaya region of West Papua have
reportedly forced thousands of Papuan civilians to flee to the
surrounding forests and mountains where there is little or no food,
shelter or medical help.  Civilian deaths have already been
reported. Local human rights organizations have appealed to the
European Union and UN Human Rights Organizations to press Jakarta to
halt these operations and to send observer missions.  The West Papua
Advocacy Team has made similar appeals to the U.S. State Department
and National Security Council, but which have so far gone
unanswered.

Security officials, in league with a Chinese fishing firm, have
tortured 14 Papuan fisherman who sought to protect their traditional
fishing areas, killing one.

A major Indonesian naval operation off West Papua's southern coast
which has frightened villagers along the coast, according to
Indonesian Naval officials, is intended as a warning against foreign
intervention in West Papua and to the local, lightly armed
pro-independence resistance.

Police have sided with Indonesian Church officials in a dispute
pitting Papuan Church officials seeking to establish a Papuan Synod
for the Kingmi church, second largest Christian congregation in West
Papua, against the Jakarta-based Indonesian Synod.

Meanwhile, the central government has announced that vast tracks of
old growth forest in West Papua and elsewhere will be put up for bid
in February for logging operations.

*Military Operations in West Papua's Highlands Displace Thousands of
Civilians*
An Indonesian military campaign targeting the Goliat Tabuni faction
of the Papuan armed resistance in the remote Punjak Jaya region in
central West Papua has displaced thousands of Papuan civilians who
have fled to the nearby forests and mountains.  Others have fled to
neighboring villages where very crowded conditions have led to
increased incidence of diarrhea, hepatitis and malaria.  A reliable
church source reports that over 200 children are ill.  According to
multiple sources on the ground, these internally displaced persons
are now cut off from their gardens as well as inter and intra
village commerce as well as access to adequate shelter or medical
care.  These local sources report deaths among these civilians
including a mother and her two children who drowned trying to flee
across a stream on January 4.  Brimob forces (heavily armed police)
killed a 71 year old man on January 4 and four persons were reported
to have died due to inadequate food, shelter and medicine on Jan 17.

The most affected people are from the Lani tribal group.  After the
military destroyed the local district office in Yamo, an elementary
school and a polyclinic, between 3,000 and 5,000 people fled in the
direction of Wano and then on to Guyage.  Local officials have tried
to arrange a cease fire between the Indonesian security forces and
the armed Papuan resistance but without success.  Church leaders who
have raised the humanitarian crisis with government officials in
Jayapura, the provincial capital, have found them unresponsive.
Local government medical officials have refused to provide medical
assistance to Lani medical workers alleging that the aid might wind
up with the resistance.

As reported in the previous month's West Papua Report, the grave
human consequences of past Indonesian military operations in the
West Papuan highlands give rise to urgent concerns about the plight
of civilians trapped by the latest offensive.  Beginning in the Fall
of 2004 and extending into early 2006, Indonesian military
operations destroyed villages and forced flight of thousands of
civilians into the jungles who sought to escape marauding Indonesian
soldiers who burned churches and leveled houses.  The military's
refusal to permit access to this besieged population, even for
provision of humanitarian relief by local church leaders and others
gravely exacerbated the crisis.  Following the same disastrous
policy, local sources contend that the military again has placed
tight restrictions on civilian travel in the affected region.

Restrictions on access also apply to local and foreign journalists,
human rights monitors or humanitarian assistance providers.  These
restrictions afford the security forces carte blanche to violate
fundamental human rights norms and even Indonesian law.

Local sources have identified specific units involved in the current
operations.  Observers note that these are among the most brutal and
unaccountable of Indonesian security forces including TNI Battalion
753 from Nabire, Kopassus (notorious special forces troops), Brimob
(Police Mobile Brigade) and intelligence units.

Local Papuan civil society leaders have appealed to the European
Union and the United Nations Human Rights Commission to press
Jakarta to halt the operations and to send observer missions.  West
Papua Advocacy Team appeals to the U.S Department of State, National
Security Council and US. Embassy as of date of publication have gone
unanswered.  Various offices in the U.S. Congress have been apprised
of the growing humanitarian crisis.

*Security Personnel Torture Fourteen Papuans Killing One*
A January 26 Agence France Press (AFP) item reports that Indonesian
security forces, working for a Chinese fishing company, detained and
tortured 14 Papuans trying to protect their traditional fishing
area.

The report cites the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights,
noting that 14 fisherman from the Yawasir tribe were beaten and
tortured when they asserted their customary rights by removing
fishing nets belonging to fish-processing firm PT Minatama Mutiara.
One of the victims, Titus Yun, reportedly died.  The incident
occurred on December 21, 2006 near the southern end of the border
with Papua New Guinea.

An Indonesian employee of the Chinese-owned company and three local
men acting as police deputies detained and abused the 14 from the
Mariana Strait, it said, citing church sources in the coastal town
of Merauke.

Sources at the Institute told AFP:  "The abuses appear to be
retaliation by the Indonesian military and the fish processing
company PT Minatama Mutiara," adding that the attackers tried to
make the incident look like a tribal clash.  In fact, the Institute
spokesperson noted, "The Yawasir people were making efforts to
protect their marine resources from impacts of the commercial
fishing companies."

*Major Naval Indonesian Naval Exercise Frightens Papuan Villagers*
Sources in West Papua claim that Indonesian naval exercise off the
shore of West Papua have disrupted the lives of Papuans living in
coastal areas near the exercise.

In the early morning of January 7, Papuans in Kaimana, a small town
on West Papua's southern coast, were awakened by deafening
explosions by guns fired from amphibious tanks and warships
conducting unannounced operations.  The operations, which lasted
until January 23, frightened and disrupted the lives of nearby
residents.

Reporting by TEMPO interaktif indicated that the exercise was
carried out by Armada Jaya Fleet XXVI whose base is in Surabaya,
East Java.  The navy allegedly deployed 7,500 personnel and the full
range of the Indonesian navy's war machine including submarines,
aircraft warships, and the latest weaponry, including testing of the
RM-Grat, their newest missile.

According to TEMPO, the exercise simulated an operation aimed at
relieving West Papua from foreign occupation.  The landing point
chosen "to liberate West Papua" was Kaimana, situated near the major
town of Timika. According to comments of Indonesian Naval Chief of
staff Admiral Slamet Soebijanto, the exercise was intended in part
as a message to the Papuan armed resistance and to the international
community that the Indonesian navy was prepared to protect the
territory of the "Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia
(NKRI)."  Its principal impact appears to have been the intimidation
of local Papuan civilians living near the operation.

*Jakarta Plans Further Destruction of Papuan Rain Forest*
In late January Agence France Press reported international protest
of plans by the Indonesian central government to auction permits to
log old growth forests in West Papua and elsewhere in the
archipelago.  The report noted that in early February old growth
forest in West Papua and other locations would be offered up for
bid. The other sites, notably in Maluku and Kalimantan, like West
Papua constitute areas where local non-Javanese indigenous peoples
have long protested the destructive exploitation of their lands.

Greenpeace led the international protest, noting inter alia that
more than one million hectares of forest lands were affected.
"Instead of taking drastic measures to reverse the destruction of
our remaining forests, the forest ministry is hell-bent on issuing
new permits to the highest bidders," Greenpeace Southeast Asia
campaigner Hapsoro said in a statement.

AFP noted that Indonesia loses about 2.8 million hectares (6.0
million acres) of forests each year -- among the highest rates in
the world.West Papua has some of the last areas of Indonesian which
rainforest are home to a rich variety of plant and animal life, with
new discoveries being made on an almost monthly basis.

*Police Take Sides in Papuan Church Dispute*
Local sources have told the West Papua Advocacy Team that Papuan
church leaders seeking to set up a church synod separate from the
central Indonesian synod (CAMA) face growing pressure from their
police-backed opponents.  The independent Papuan synod of the KINGMI
church in Jayapura has been forced by police to abandon some church
property and have been conducting Sunday services in a gymnasium.
Police have also forced Papuans out of their church in nearby
Sentani.

In Jakarta, Papuans peacefully occupied the offices of the Indonesia
Synod to demand that the Jakarta synod stop alleging that the Papuan
synod supports the Papuan armed resistance.

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http://www.human-rights-and-christian-persecution.org/christian-news-february-2007.html#West%20Papua2

West Papuan church office occupied by Indonesian police

Rev. Benny Giay, Chair of Kingmi Church Bureau.

Clergy have demanded the right to run church affairs without intimidation
and government interference, after Indonesian police stormed the office of
the Gereja Kingmi

church synod office in Jayapura on December 28 last year. Two pastors were
injured in the incident.

After the intrusion, 400 members of the church gathered outside the office
in a peaceful protest. This resulted in the withdrawal of police after 24
hours.

Rev. Benny Giay, the Chair of the Kingmi Church Bureau, says the
occupation was an unprecedented action by police and amounted to an attack
on religious freedom.

"This attack by police is not just against church activists working to
defend human rights," he said. "It is an attack on the institution of the
Church itself."

During the incident, police accused Rev. Giay and his associate, Rev.
Noakh Nawipa, of being involved in an armed attack in August 2002, which
resulted in the deaths of

two US teachers and one Indonesian. However, Benny Giay is a well-known
peace activist in the Papuan non-violence movement and denies all charges.
Other accusations

include the church’s involvement as the "religious arm" of the OPM — the
Free Papua Movement — which supports an armed struggle for Papuan
independence.

Previously, the Kingmi Church had ties with an Indonesian parent church,
but gained autonomy for its own synod last year. It is thought that
authorities have interpreted this

as a "separatist" activity encouraging Papuan independence from Indonesia
and have therefore targeted the church leaders.

Supporters of human rights in Papua are increasingly concerned that in the
current climate of oppression, a number of prominent clergymen—already
under constant

surveillance — are at risk of assassination.

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http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/02/ap3390349.html?partner=alerts

Associated Press
Freeport, Phelps Holders to Vote on Deal
Associated Press 02.02.07, 2:03 PM ET

Copper mining companies Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. and Phelps
Dodge Corp. said Friday that they will both hold special shareholders
meetings on March 14

to vote on Freeport's $25.9 billion acquisition of Phelps.

Phoenix-based Phelps Dodge agreed in November to be bought out by
Freeport-McMoRan in a deal which would create the world's largest publicly
traded copper

company.

Shareholders that hold stock of both companies on Feb. 12 will be able to
vote on the proposed transaction.

The acquisition is subject to Freeport and Phelps shareholder approval,
regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Shares of Freeport fell $1.35, or 2.3 percent, to $55.45 in afternoon
trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has been trading in a
range of $43.10 and $72.20

for the past 52 weeks. Phelps' stock dropped 87 cents to $122.60 on the
Big Board.

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http://www.human-rights-and-christian-persecution.org/christian-news-february-2007.html#West%20Papua

Growing humanitarian crisis in West Papua’s Puncak Jaya
Map of Puncak Jaya

5,000 members of Catholic, Kingmi, and Baptist churches have been
displaced by post-Christmas military operations conducted in Papua’s Yamu
district in the

administrative region of Puncak Jaya. The villagers have fled to the
jungles where they are at risk of starvation and disease. One civilian,
Lenus Murib, has reportedly been

shot dead by soldiers.

According to local sources, there are some 3,000 troops occupying the main
town area. Human rights workers report that many civilian houses have been
burned and

government buildings have been taken over by the military. Additional
paramilitary police, known as BRIMOB, are conducting operations just
outside the town.

In a display of unity, church leaders met with the Papuan organisation
Els-ham (Human Rights Institute for Study and Advocacy) to try and resolve
the crisis. They fear a

repeat of military operations in 2004 and 2005, when 6,000 people were
displaced and many famine-related deaths were reported.

Please take immediate action!

Please write to your federal Member of Parliament about your concerns over
the displacement of Papuan Christians and the impending humanitarian
crisis in Puncak

Jaya.

   1. Outline the situation
   2. Ask your MP to a) raise your concerns in parliament, and b) write to
the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

You can also write to:
His Excellency Mr Teuku Mohammad Hamzah Thayeb
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
8 Darwin Avenue
Yarralumla ACT 2600 Australia

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